The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-11-01
OUR FORTIFICATIONS.
The Report of General Duane
Regarding Them.
THE ESTIMATES SUBMITTED.
a Valid and Constitutional Prohibi-
tion-Nsst-McTigh Resigns
Other Notes.
Our Fortifcatiops.

WASHINGTON, October 3l.-General
Duane, chief of engineers, has made
his annual report to the Secretary OF
War. Beyond reference to the attached
reports of officers in charge of i'm
provements. the subject of river and
harbor improvements, receives little
mention in the report, which is largely
devoted to statement of the condi-
ton of the sea coast and lake front de-
lenses. On this topic, General Duane
says many of the works are delapidated
and economy requires that they should
be kept from decay. The estimates SUBJ
mitIed aggregate S., 234 600, including
So $40 600 for the construction of gun
and mortar batteries, and 81, $50. 900
for submarine mines and appliances
for closing channels. In the report
upon the subject of Notifications made
by the board of engineers, which is in
cluded in General Dnane's report, it is
said: 1T must be evident that imme-
date action is demanded to place our
sea eoast defenses in proper condition
to resist the attacks of an enemy.
From the differences of opinion which
rxist among certain non-military
experts as to the character of
armor to be used on land defenses. the
impression has been created that this
matter is in an unsettled and tentative
condition. and that the policy of mac
ton now existing should still continue;
but the facts will not warrant this con-
clusion, as more than nine-tenths OF
the armament recommended for our
Sea coasts is not to be mounted behind
iron projections, but in the rear of
earthen covers surmounting and shield
ing masonry magazines, bomb proofs
and stoTerooms. Particularly is this
true of the rife mortars, which
must hereafter play an important
part in the defense of our channels and
water WAYS, and there is no reason why
tie erection OF batteries required for
them should be delayed single month.
In word. proper sums may be judi
ciously expended and much progress
toward placing our coasts in defensive
condition may be made; indeed, must
be made, before the question of armor
demands consideration. In accordance
with the instructions of the Secretary
of War, the board also submitted pre-
liminary plans for the defense of the
more important sesboard harbors.
fwo typical designs, prepared by
the board, which are said TO meet
all modern requirements, are 1Or
Notifications constructed of sand,
covering masonry and bomb proofs. 1"
The report says that no armor is now,
or ever will be, required for such de-
lenses. 1t is believed that disappear
ing carriages can be constructed which
will carry I2-inch, fifty-ton rit1ed guns,
and an appropriation Is suggested suffi-
cient to place few OF these guns and
carriages at each of the principal ports.
The plan of defense by mortar and gun
batteries recommended by the board
involves an expenditure during the
next fiscal year of $2,8i0,000
which it is proposed to divide
among the posts as follows: New
York $500 600, San Francisco
$3.50 600. Boston $2SO,OO0, Hampton
Roads $3.50 600. New Orleans $40 000
Philadelphia $21 GOO, Washington $780,
00O, Baltimore 200, Portland $780,
QUO, Narragansett Bay $290,0O0. The
plan also contemplates the preparation
of easements. cable shafts, etc, to the
number of tweuty-six. distributed as
follows: At New York 5, at San
FranLisco.5, at Boston 5, at Hampton
Roads and Philadelphia ., at Wash
ingron l. at Baltimore l, at Portland 3,
at Narragansett Bay 2.